I work for an insurace company dealing with motor claims. the fact its taking her two weeks to come forward is nothing, under the RTA they have up to 6 years to claim following a RTC for damage and 3 years for PI so they are well with in the time limits involved.
Ultimately your wife has hit a parked car, it doesnt matter how its parked, even if it was on double yellows it does not absolve some one of negligence.
Best bet is to try and solve it privately, insurers are hammering people now for at fault accident's even if you no claims bonus is not affected.
Perhaps a petition with neighbours going on from this about parking would be a way to resolve any further issues.
I fully acknowledge the mrs is at fault and did the right thing admitting it. But if they had parked properly it would have never happened.
What's got my back up is the fact they weren't bothered and suddenly two weeks later they are.
There are two 50p size scratches (no dents or gouges) and no marks on the mrs's car so would be hard to prove she did it but honesty is the best policy.
The car park is private property so not sure insurance is valid? Or is that a myth?
Certain it can be sorted out amicably outside of insurance and will be sure to see their quotes rather than take their word for it.
To be honest if I had parked badly and my car got scratched I would see it as my fault and not dream of asking someone to pay for it even if they owned up. If I had parked properly and it happened that would be a different story.
It depends a little what you mean by a a private car park. If its privately owned but any member of the public could enter the car park (IE an ASDA car park) then your insurance still covers you.
Unfortuantely you need to look at it how the insurers would (hopefully it wont go through the insurance) and that is it doesnt matter how a car is parked, even if it is parked illegally on double yellow lies the person who hit the parked car is responsible.
